Results 41-60 of 61 for flu speaker:Mary Harney

Written Answers — Avian Flu: Avian Flu (21 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: For the sake of clarity, avian flu or H5N1 is primarily a disease of birds. To date, there have been a very small number of human cases of H5N1 infection documented, in situations where there has been very close contact with infected birds. There is no evidence of human to human transmission. The Department of Agriculture and Food is responsible for controlling avian flu in birds and mammals...

Written Answers — Avian Flu: Avian Flu (7 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: ...as providing the best value for money. The Chiron H5N1 vaccine is being manufactured in Italy and not at the site in Liverpool where there were manufacturing difficulties concerning the seasonal flu vaccine in 2004. I have no concerns regarding the supply of vaccine from the Italian plant.

Written Answers — Infectious Diseases: Infectious Diseases (2 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: I am satisfied with progress on preparedness for a possible flu pandemic and with public health actions in response to a possible outbreak of avian flu in Ireland. For the sake of clarity, H5N1 avian flu is primarily a disease of birds. To date, there have been a very small number of human cases of H5N1 infection documented, in situations where there has been very close contact with infected...

Infectious Diseases. (2 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: I am satisfied with progress on preparations for a possible flu pandemic and with public health actions in response to a possible outbreak of avian flu in Ireland. The health sector's role in regard to avian flu relates to the human health implications that would arise were there to be an outbreak of avian flu. Guidance on the investigation and management of suspected human cases has...

Vaccination Programme. (2 Mar 2006)

Mary Harney: .... Clearly, our aim is to have a 70% uptake among the at-risk group by 2010, which has great benefits. Members are all aware, from their experiences with elderly people, that those who receive the flu vaccine are less likely to encounter winter complications. It is highly successful.

Written Answers — Avian Flu: Avian Flu (23 Feb 2006)

Mary Harney: Avian influenza, bird flu, is an infectious disease of birds caused by type A strains of the influenza virus. The Department of Agriculture and Food is responsible for controlling avian influenza in birds and mammals other than humans. That Department has contingency plans in place and all questions relating to these plans should be referred to my colleague the Minister for Agriculture and...

Written Answers — Avian Flu: Avian Flu (22 Feb 2006)

Mary Harney: Avian influenza, or bird flu, is an infectious disease of birds caused by type A strains of the influenza virus. The Department of Agriculture and Food is responsible for controlling avian influenza in birds and mammals other than humans. That Department has contingency plans in place and all questions relating to these plans should be referred to my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture...

Written Answers — Infectious Diseases: Infectious Diseases (31 Jan 2006)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 139, 144 and 157 together. Avian influenza, bird flu, is an infectious disease of birds caused by type A strains of the influenza virus. The Department of Agriculture and Food is responsible for controlling avian influenza in birds and mammals other than humans. That Department has put in place a range of measures aimed at maintaining Ireland's avian flu free...

Written Answers — Infectious Diseases: Infectious Diseases (25 Jan 2006)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 256 and 273 together. Avian influenza or bird flu is an infectious disease of birds caused by type A strains of the influenza virus. The Department of Agriculture and Food is responsible for controlling avian influenza in birds and mammals other than humans. That Department has put in place a range of measures aimed at maintaining Ireland's avian flu-free...

Written Answers — Infectious Diseases: Infectious Diseases (8 Dec 2005)

Mary Harney: ...between three days and a month after a tick bite and spreads outwards from the initial bite site. This rash can last up to a month and be several inches in diameter. People can also complain of 'flu-like symptoms such as headache, sore throat, neck stiffness, fever, muscle aches and general fatigue. Occasionally, there may be more serious symptoms involving the nervous system, joints, the...

Written Answers — Infectious Diseases: Infectious Diseases (15 Nov 2005)

Mary Harney: ...between three days and a month after a tick bite and spreads outwards from the initial bite site. This rash can last up to a month and be several inches in diameter. People can also complain of 'flu-like symptoms such as headache, sore throat, neck stiffness, fever, muscle aches and general fatigue. Occasionally, there may be more serious symptoms involving the nervous system, joints, the...

Written Answers — Vaccination Programme: Vaccination Programme (8 Nov 2005)

Mary Harney: I am satisfied that the Health Service Executive materials are not misleading. For instance, the public poster, Anyone can catch the flu!, clearly states: Over 65s and younger people with chronic diseases are especially vulnerable. The vaccine is free to these groups. GPs charge a consultation fee to those without a medical card. The leaflet with frequently asked questions states that the...

Written Answers — Vaccination Programme: Vaccination Programme (2 Nov 2005)

Mary Harney: ...older, those with specific chronic illness such as chronic heart, lung or kidney disease, and those with a suppressed immune system. For persons in the at risk groups, complications arising from influenza such as pneumonia are common and can be fatal particularly in the elderly. Private patients who request flu vaccine and are not in the at risk group receive a prescription from their...

Written Answers — Infectious Diseases: Infectious Diseases (25 Oct 2005)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 217 and 239 together. Avian influenza —"bird flu"— is an infectious disease of birds caused by the type A strains of the influenza virus. The Department of Agriculture and Food is responsible for controlling avian influenza in birds and mammals other than humans. That Department has a contingency plan for avian influenza and all questions relating to this...

Written Answers — Infectious Diseases: Infectious Diseases (20 Oct 2005)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 72, 79 and 86 together. Avian influenza, bird flu, is an infectious disease of birds caused by the type A strains of the influenza virus. The Department of Agriculture and Food is responsible for controlling avian influenza in birds and mammals other than humans. That Department has a contingency plan for avian influenza and all questions relating to this...

Written Answers — Infectious Diseases: Infectious Diseases (18 Oct 2005)

Mary Harney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 162, 180, 268, 300, 309 and 348 together. I wish to take this opportunity to clarify that avian influenza, "bird flu", is an infectious disease of birds caused by the type A strains of the influenza virus. The Department of Agriculture and Food is responsible for controlling avian influenza in birds and mammals other than humans. That Department has a...

Written Answers — EU Presidency: EU Presidency (23 Mar 2005)

Mary Harney: ...on 5 and 6 May. The Irish Presidency convened a special meeting of EU Health Ministers in Brussels on 12 February to consider the threats to public health in the EU posed by outbreaks of avian flu in the Far East. An informal meeting of Health Ministers was held on 12 May. Ministers followed up on discussions held at the special Ministers meeting on 12 February about improving Community...

Accident and Emergency Services. (23 Mar 2005)

Mary Harney: ...for the management of hospitals to encourage people to move to more appropriate settings. That is an issue. I understand that the wards in Galway have been closed because of an outbreak of flu in the hospital.

Written Answers — Influenza Outbreak: Influenza Outbreak (22 Mar 2005)

Mary Harney: I presume the Deputy is referring to the threat of an influenza pandemic. An influenza pandemic would have very serious effects in terms of mortality and morbidity. Services such as acute hospitals and general practice would experience greatly increased workloads, well in excess of those seen during more regular outbreaks of influenza. The World Health Organisation published an assessment of...

Written Answers — Infectious Diseases: Infectious Diseases (9 Mar 2005)

Mary Harney: Avian influenza, or bird flu, is an infectious disease of animals caused by viruses that normally affect only birds. While all bird species are thought to be susceptible to infection with avian influenza, domestic poultry flocks are especially vulnerable to infections that can rapidly reach epidemic proportions. There have been a number of outbreaks in poultry in Asia since late 2003. In...